Daniel’s Story

There was no question whether or not Daniel Braswell would go to college. His determination and his intelligence made it a foregone conclusion. However, his chaotic home life made pursuing academics a difficult challenge.

“I entered Boys Hope Girls Hope of Cincinnati’s residential program in 2009, and academics became my top and only priority,” he said.

A junior at St. Xavier High School, he already knew several boys in the program and settled into a routine quickly.

“I was instantly amazed at the contribution the organization had toward my welfare and my future. It was unusual but comforting to live in a household where the counselors and other scholars supported me. I was safe, productive and had become part of a new family. The weight I carried on my shoulders gradually diminished and I went on to graduate high school with a 3.8 GPA,” he added.

After graduating in 2011, Daniel went on to the University of Cincinnati, where he received multiple scholarships. As a first-generation college student, he faced many obstacles. However, through the support of Boys Hope Girls Hope, he persevered, changing his major from Biology to Health Sciences and strengthening his network of support through the University of Cincinnati’s College of Allied Health Sciences.

There, he pursued his interest in rehabilitation sciences and earned internships as a Research and Development intern with Procter & Gamble and a Biodynamics intern with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and co-authored an original article in the British Journal of Sports Medicine titled the “Analysis of head impact exposure and brain microstructure response in a season-long application of a jugular vein compression collar: a prospective, neuroimaging investigation in American football.” To view the article in its entirety, please click here.

Daniel graduated in 2016 with a baccalaureate in Health Sciences. With his passion for rehabilitation sciences fielded, Daniel applied and was accepted to the University of Cincinnati’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program. An incredibly selective program, Daniel was one of only 35 students accepted out of a pool of over 300 applicants.

“Daniel is a prime example of our hope for every BHGH scholar – he is involved in community projects, is a regular visitor to the two Boys Homes and is a wonderful role model for the scholars, and consistently reaches out to see how he can help,” said Debbie Bowman, Executive Director of Boys Hope Girls Hope Cincinnati.

Daniel is expected to graduate with his doctorate in the spring of 2019.